US exchange program

Mandela Washington Fellowship 2025 – Apply for US Exchange Program. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). This highly competitive program brings young African leaders to the United States for a six-week academic and leadership exchange, where they can hone their skills and connect with U.S. professionals. While the core application for the 2025 program is now closed, there are still opportunities for alumni and other components, so it’s a good time to prepare for future cycles.